Newfane Garden Club to meet
NEWFANE- The Newfane Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting Thursday, May 1, at the Newfane Congregational Church in Newfane, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Following the business meeting, members and guests will make spring flower arrangements for patients at Grace Cottage Hospital. Bring large vitamin bottles and fresh flowers for the arrangements. Hostesses are Lenore Salzbrunn and Maggie Bills. Guests are always welcome.
Brattleboro Housing Authority properties going smoke-free
BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Housing Authority's Samuel Elliot Apartments and Hayes Court properties will become smoke-free as of May 1.
Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition and the regional Vermont Quit Partner Terri Kneipp will be at Samuel Elliot Apartments from 11 a.m. to noon on May 1 to recognize and celebrate this day in which these properties become healthier homes for their residents.
Second-hand smoke and cessation educational materials will be made available to interested tenants. Visit BrattleboroAreaPreventionCoalition.org for more information or call 802-257-2175.
Farmers' Market kicks off 40th year on May 3
BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market opens for its 40th season on Saturday, May 3, at 9 a.m.
Andy Davis hosts the traditional Maypole dance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a springtime rite for young and old dancers alike. Children are welcome to participate in this fun, guided dance with ribbons around the Maypole.
This year at the farmers' market there will be more than 50 vendors, including some new cheese producers, farmers, crepe-makers, and makers of natural body care products and pottery.
Quality produce and bedding plants, local foods, bakery treats, hot lunches from across the globe, and beautiful crafts will also be available. EBT and debit are welcome at the market, but leave your dogs at home. The market on Western Avenue (Route 9) will be open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., through October. Call 802-254-8885 for more information.
Pinnacle Association hosts Wildflower Walk on May 3
WESTMINSTER WEST - With spring finally here, wildflowers are emerging to the special delight of every watchful hiker. Celebrate the surprising displays of those delicate blossoms on Saturday, May 3, from 2 to 4 p.m., with the Pinnacle Association and knowledgeable leaders Libby Mills, Carol Westing, and Mary Lou Johnson, who will take enthusiasts to a new site to discover forest ephemeral spring flowers.
Bring camera and water and meet at the Westminster West Church to carpool to the start. Register with Libby Mills at 802-387-5596 or [email protected]. Visit www.windmillhillpinnacle.org and go to the program listing under Events and the link to directions to Westminster West Church.
BMH hosts women's cardiac symposium
BRATTLEBORO - The Center for Cardiovascular Health at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will host a women's cardiac symposium on Saturday, May 3, in the Brew Barry Conference area from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The symposium will host several speakers who will discuss the impact of heart disease on women. Topics will include cardiac risk factors, emergency care, STEMI protocols, cardiac rehabilitation and how Accountable Care Organizations are working to improve the continuum of care. For more information about speakers, visit www.bmhphysiciangroup.org /Specialty Care/Brattleboro Cardiology.
In addition to the seminar speakers, there will be representatives onsite offering information on smoking cessation, healthy eating, and exercise. Nursing staff from the center will offer free blood pressure screening. In addition, there will be a breakout session where attendees can learn rapid, hands-only CPR, which has been endorsed by the American Heart Association.
For more information about the aymposium, or to reserve a seat, contact Laurie Dix, RN, at 802-275-3698 or [email protected].
Osher lectures continue
DUMMERSTON - The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) spring lecture series will hold its next-to-last sessions on Monday, May 5.
In the morning session William Edelglass examines ways of increasing and maintaining happiness. In the afternoon program, Donlin Foreman will consider different approaches to choreography.
Morning lectures run from 10 a.m. to noon; afternoon lectures, from 1 to 3 p.m. All lectures will be held at the Southeastern Vermont Learning Collaborative, 471 Vermont Route 5.
OLLI is a nationwide membership organization sponsoring programs for people aged 50 and over who wish to continue their education without tests, papers, or grades. Payment of full membership dues ($50) entitles members to attend all twelve lectures in the present series. Couples are welcome to join as full members at a discounted rate of $80. Lectures are also open to nonmembers for a fee of $6 per lecture.
Call 802-257-8600 or 866-889-0042 for more information.
Free tobacco cessation class at Grace Cottage
TOWNSHEND – Ready to quit smoking? Grace Cottage Hospital's “802Quits” tobacco cessation class can help. Free nicotine replacement products are available for any Vermont resident enrolled in this program.
This free class will be held on six Tuesdays, May 6 to June 10, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., in the hospital's Community Wellness Center, 133 Grafton Rd. (Rte. 35).
If you have tried to quit but are still smoking or chewing tobacco, you are particularly encouraged to attend this class. Call 802-365-3715 to register.
Free parenting workshop offered by BAPC
BRATTLEBORO - Parenting doesn't come with a handbook. Fortunately, Parenting Teens Wisely does. In an effort to promote positive communications among parents, caregivers, and teens, the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition (BAPC) and Windham County Partnership for Success offer a Parenting Teens Wisely workshop on Monday, May 5, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St.
This free, three-hour workshop teaches parents skills and techniques to help them better understand and deal with children ages 10-19. Participants will learn problem-solving tips, how to better encourage cooperation with their teen, and how to refine fair and effective discipline skills.
Two trained facilitators will guide participants. The course teaches constructive skills proven to reduce drug and alcohol abuse in youth, improve performance in school and homework, reduce delinquency and other problem behaviors, and resolve family conflict.
Participants will receive a Parenting Teens Wisely workbook, a parent resource packet, and a certificate of completion. Snacks are provided. Space is limited. Contact BAPC at 802-257-2175 or [email protected].
BAH forms new Bereavement Support Group
BRATTLEBORO - A new six-week Bereavement Support Group for adults begins on Tuesday, May 6, and will meet each Tuesday from 4:30-6 p.m., ending June 10.
The group is free of charge and open to anyone in the community grieving the death loss of a loved one, no matter where you are on your journey of grief. These groups offer a safe, mutually supportive environment for sharing experiences, insight and encouragement, through discussion, handouts, and suggestions for moving through grief.
This group is sponsored by Brattleboro Area Hospice (BAH) and will meet at the hospice office at 191 Canal St. No prior connection with BAH is required in order to participate. Connie Baxter, BAH Bereavement Care Coordinator, will be the facilitator. The group size is limited to eight people. Call Baxter at 802-257-0775, ext. 104, by May 1 for a pre-group appointment.
Transition Dummerston potluck 'shares the dirt' on food gardening
DUMMERSTON - Transition Dummerston will hold its monthly potluck and program on Friday May 9, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Dummerston Congregational Church in Dummerston Center at the intersection of Middle and East-West roads.
The theme for this month's program will be “sharing the dirt” on food gardening. Start the growing season with neighbors, and share garden wisdom and practical tips about how to get started this spring.
There will be some local experts ready to get the discussion going, but the format will be informal, “ripe” for everyone to share their own favorite gardening techniques and stories. Also, there will be opportunity to give away extras and get new seeds and starts, so bring anything green you'd like to swap.
The potluck supper will begin at 6 p.m., with people encouraged to include local food in their dishes. The program will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Ken at 802-387-5288 or Fred at 802-387-2681.
“Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is May 10
BRATTLEBORO -The 22nd annual Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive will be held on Saturday, May 10., to benefit local food shelves.
Every year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America collect non-perishable food donations to help feed the nation's hungry. It has become the nation's largest one-day food drive.
Over the past two decades, this food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers has collected about 1.3 billion pounds of food. Last year alone, 74.4 million pounds were collected.
Postal customers are asked to fill bags with non-perishable food items that the carriers will pick up as they make their rounds. Donations can be left by your mailbox for pickup or dropped off at your local post office.
All food will be distributed locally; recipients include the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center, Morningside Shelter, Loaves and Fishes, Agape Christian Fellowship, Brigid's Kitchen, Grace's Kitchen and Our Place in Bellows Falls.
Suggested items to donate are canned meats, fish, soup, peanut butter, juices and vegetables, and pasta, cereal, and rice. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Expired items cannot be accepted.
Holton Home needs crane folders
BRATTLEBORO - An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds 1,000 cranes will be granted a wish or eternal good luck.
Holton Home's residents are in the process of folding 1,000 paper cranes to be displayed in the Chamber of Commerce window in June. They would like to share their good luck with the community of Brattleboro, so they need your help folding.
The residents have put together packets of about 25 pieces of paper along with folding instructions. To get your packet, contact Ellenka at 802-254-4155, [email protected], or stop in at 158 Western Ave.
Friends of Brooks Memorial Library launches logo contest
BRATTLEBORO - The Friends of Brooks Memorial Library have a launched a contest for the redesign the Friends' logo. The public is invited to submit a new logo design that reflects the Library of today which provides technology access services, public programming, print and non-print books and materials, downloadable resources, reference services and a public meeting space.
Logo Contest Guidelines, and a picture of the current logo, are available at or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FOBML. A hard copy of the contest guidelines will be available at the Friends table on the main floor of the library.
The Friends of the Brooks Memorial Library (FOBML) was founded in 1991. The mission is to support the library through advocacy, public relations and fundraising. Membership is open to all.
The winning logo will be used on all Friends' print and electronic publications, promotional materials and website pages. A $75 gift certificate will be awarded to the winner of the Logo Contest.
Contest judges will be members of the Friends Board, two Library staff members and an individual from outside of the Library. Entries are to be submitted in a JPEG file format and emailed to [email protected] by June 9. The submission must also include an entry form that is included in the contest guidelines.